Recently, Microsoft laid off over 9000 employees. These cuts were made among several divisions, with Xbox being severely impacted, several projects being shut down, and other unannounced projects being dialed back. Announced cancellations include thePerfect Darkreboot (with The Initiative being shut down), Rare’sEverwild, and a new ZeniMax MMORPG (which Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer reportedly really liked). It’s hard to see this as anything other than Microsoft/Xbox undermining its gaming efforts to double down on AI, especially as an Xbox producer suggested laid-off employeesuse AI for “career planning and clarity.“It was such a dark day that the safest assumption should be that it’ll get worse before it gets better, putting several games into question—including tentpole IPs likeFable.
While there were murmurs and media reports ahead of the June 2 layoffs, the truth of the matter is that several employees were no doubt blindsided. Many, many studios lost personnel, and if games with the strengths ofPerfect Darkand ZeniMax’s MMORPG can get the axe, then anything can. In the wake of these layoffs, it’s up to leadership to deliver clear messaging, set forth clear expectations, and show the way to avoid these situations, but perhaps worse than Xbox outright cancelingFableis the lack of communication around it.
Is Fable 2026 Canceled? Silence Speaks Louder Than Words
Since the layoffs, Xbox has not officially commented on any future projects—and it’s unlikely to do so. The most information comes fromVariety, whose source claims that every gamefeaturedat the Xbox Games Showcase presentation in June was “safe.” The problem, of course, is that several projects were not “featured” at the showcase. Spencer did tease aHalo: Combat Evolvedremake for 2025, as well as mention a newForzagame (likelyForza Horizonfrom Playground, not Turn 10’s which was hit hard by layoffs),Gears of Wars: E-Day, andFablecoming out in 2026too. However, it’s unclear if this guarantees anything for them. Little is currently known/shown about any of these games, withForza Horizonbeing educated guesswork, but it has not been properly announced. After the June 2 layoffs, it’s hard to trust that anything is safe, and assuming anything is without outright confirmation, release dates, or the like becomes a dangerous game.
Announced in 2020
First Trailer in 2023
Gameplay Trailer in 2024
2025 Release Date Announced in 2024
Canceled in 2025
2026 Release Date (Delay) Announced in 2025
Presumably, the gamesmentionedat the Xbox Games Showcase are further in development than other projects. They are releasing next year after all, which means they should be in some stage of polish. That, alone, does not protect these games, and there is historical precedent here.Fable Legendswas announced in 2013, had a closed beta in 2014, and was reportedly in the final polishing stages in 2015.Fable Legendswas canceled when Microsoft suddenly closed Lionhead near the start of 2016. Meanwhile,Xbox’sScaleboundwas one of the most exciting gamesin its catalog when it was announced at E3 2014, received a delay but was set to release in 2017, and was ultimately canceled in all that time. Reportedly, it was canceled so late because of failures between PlatinumGames and Microsoft, with the game not being as far along in development as fans may have thought.
And that poses a big question: isFable 2026as far along in development as fans think? How much gameplay have they actually seen? Why had marketing been lackluster before the delay (if the teams were working to hit these release dates)? Why was the delay announced in February, and why was it over a year? There have been encouraging reports that would indicate that, yes, everything is proceeding and thatFablewill hit its 2026 release window. But no word from Xbox in the wake of the layoffs. The silence onFablespeaks louder than saying it is safe, that it is releasing, and that every othergame likeGears of War: E-Dayis safe. The silence for employees also speaks louder than words, with no one having security while working in their field of passion.
Right now, it’s hard to say whether or notFableis just delayed or will end up canceled at the finish line. The secretive nature of the industry often means things are learned after the fact, if they are ever learned at all. The point stands regardless: it should not be hard to say whether a tentpole IP is in danger or not. The thought that it could be shouldn’t even be entertained, but there is little proof to the contrary and even fewer reasons to have faith now.
